crittenden



' Patented July 9, 1867.

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IMPROVEMENT IN- RAILROAD cans.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Bait known that I, LYMAN B. CRITTENDHN, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cars for Drying Brick; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, refercnoebcinghad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which;

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved drying-car and track, such'section beiugformed by a plane passing longitudinally through the car and track, midway between the opposite sides of each.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of atsection of the track, together with the car tongue and double ratchet device for moving the cur.

Figure 3 shows an end of one of the bearers of the car-frame resting on its axle, and illustrating my mode of strengthening such bearers.

Figure 4 is a cross-section of such bearer; and

Figure 5 shows in perspective the form of carrying or hearing trays which I commonly use in. connection with my improved car in drying and hauling brick.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a car for drying brick in an oven prepared for such-purpose, such car being fitted with certain devices for convenience in loading brick thereon, and unloading them therefrom, in connection with a ratchet device for moving such car when heavily loaded.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and modp of operation. i

a a are two parallel rails or bars of any known material, so laid as to make a track leading from the brickmachine or from the carriers connected therewith, to the drying-oven, or from the latter to the kiln; On this track the car shown in fig. 1 rests and operates for the purpose of being loaded and moved. The car-frame or body is supported by a truck consisting'of the wheels 1;, attached to the axles c, on which axles, near their extremities, but inside the wheels 6, rest the bearers d, consisting usually of plate or b into an inverted U-shapc, as shown in figrd, so as to secure additional strength wi These bearers d I notch sufiiciently to support the axles c', and, in order that-they be not seriously weakened thereby I strengthen the bearers d at such points by a U-shaped iron plate, e, securely riveted thereto: '.['0 the bearers dis attached the frame-work which supports the slides or trays loaded with brick. Such frame consists of cross-bearers or platesf or boiler or plate iron, extending across between the opposite ends of the bearers d, and at such points between the ends as may be desirable, and secured to the bearers d in any convenient way. To these cross-platesfthe posts z'are fastened, the latter being made of angle iron, and of sufficient number "and weight to secure the requisite strength. Running horizontally across from 'one to another of these posts ii, and from side to side of the car, are the angle irons o 0, so attached to such posts as to form projectingledges on which to place the shelves or trays which carry the brick. Each of such ledges is so far separated from the one next above it or below it as to allow room between them for the free admission and circulation of hot air from the drying-oveu, through the lattice-work thus made. Such arrangement for shelves or trays is carried to any required height, when, if necessary, further strength is secured by the braces 9, running one part of the framework to another. Similar braces connect and brace the axles c or other parts of the truck-frame. On each pair of the angle-iron ledges o o I place a series of trays of any desirable construction, but usually of the form shown in fig. 5, on which trays or shelves are placed the brick to be dried. Each such trayp has a flange, s, on one edge, and projections s on the other, so that as the trays p are slid on to and along the ledges o, the projections s of one tray will come against the flanges ofthe next tray. Thus interstices or oiler iron bent transversely diagonally from thout increase of-wcight.-

openings are kept between thc traysp to allow of the free circulation 65 the heated air among the, bricks to be dried. At each end of'the tray I make handles 15, for convenience of lifting or moving the tray pfwhic'h is especially necessary when the tray is, loaded with brick. To the axles c I attach a draw-bar, h, to either end of which to bolt a tongue, 0. Directly under such bar it, and. securely fastened to the ties of the trackjI pine},- a double ratchet device, (as shown in fig. 2,) with one set of ratchet teeth, m, pointing in one direction, and the other set, m, pointing in the opposite direction. The tongue 11 make of the form of a bent lever,

having an arm, Z, to which I attach two pawls 'n 'n, in such a way that one will operate against each set of ratchet teeth m m. A good-sized car loaded with .undried brick to its full capacity, in the manner above described, would be of so great weight as to be moved by hand, by the aid of only the ordinary appliances, with great difficulty, if at all. By the tougher and ratchet device described, I overcome this .difliculty to i i-great extent; The car, tongue, etc., being in the position indicated in figal, to run the car back, I drop the forward end of'the tongue 1 down, which carries the pawl '11, back, and drops it behindone of. the teeth m, the pawlv n being at the same time raised so as not to operate at all. Then by raising the tongue I the arm I is thrown forward, it and the I pawl n approach to a straight line, the distance between their opposite extremities is increased, and consequently the car is driven back. The tongue is again dropped, the piiwl it takes another tooth, and the operation is continued. The tongue I is easily removable so as to be attached to either end of the bar k, or to be used with different cars. To move the car in the opposite direction, the pawl 12' is used, the mode of operation being the same, but the operation being in a reverse direction. Or the tongue I may be attached to the other end of the bar It, and the operation be the same. The framework of the car, made as described wholly or chiefly of boiler plate or angle iron, secures the requisite strength, and is still suiiiciently open to allow the heated air from the drying-oven or furnace to circulate among the bricks freely and dry them thoroughly. In Ordinary use, Tload the brick on to the trays 1) either by machinery or by hand, and as fast as they are loaded slide them on to and along the ledges 0 till the car is properly ,fillcd. I then run the car into the drying-oven, where the brick are properly dried. Thence they are removed to the kiln and unloaded in the same way. The use of the trays J capable of being conveniently handled when loaded, enables me to more the undried briclts with less handling, and-consequently, as they are in a. plastic state, with loss injury. The car-frame may be close instead of latticed, as described.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 15-

1; A close or latticcd-w ork car-frame, mounted on trucks, such frame. being made of boiler plate or angle iron, and furnished with angle-iron ledges, or which ledges to place brick-bearing shelves or trays, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The construction and use, in connection with such car, of a tongue, I, having an arm, I, the latter provided with one or more pawls, in combination with a corresponding central ratcheted rail, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefcre set forth.

3. The construction and use, in combination with a car for transporting and drying brick, of a metallic brick-bearing tray, htwing' flanges orprojcctions on either or both of its opposite edges, so that when'such trays are placed side by side in the car, interstices or openings will be left between them for the free circulation of air, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

In testimony whereof I, the said LYMAN B. CRITTENDEN, have hereunto'set my hand in presence of- LYMAN B. CRITTENDEN.

Witnesses:

A. S. Nicnotson, -Gro. H. Cnnrsrr. 

